Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Weekly Garden Thread - February 20-16, 2024 [Gardening on a Budget - Frugal Tips Edition]
February 10, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 02/10/2024 5:34:18 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a week Ping List. We DO post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: budget; economy; food; gardening
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

1 posted on 02/10/2024 5:34:18 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 4everontheRight; Augie; Apple Pan Dowdy; Aevery_Freeman; ApplegateRanch; ArtDodger; AloneInMass; ...

2 posted on 02/10/2024 5:35:44 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Gardening on a Budget: 23 Frugal Gardening Tips

Gardening doesn’t need to be an expensive hobby; there are plenty of gardening on a budget ideas.

Gardening is meant to save you money or at least be enjoyable, but the beginning start-up costs can feel overwhelming. Not everyone has the cash to start a large garden all at one time – but I promise, gardening on a budget IS possible!

You can find tips for gardening when you’re broke. You don’t HAVE to spend hundreds of dollars for a beautiful garden. In fact, there are plenty of ways to do it on a budget; we started gardening when we barely made ends meet.

Whether you’re a brand new gardener or simply looking for ways to reduce your gardening expenses, I put together a list of my favorite frugal gardening tips.

1. Grow From Seeds Not Seedling Starts
2. Be Creative When Starting Seeds
3. Use Pallets
4. Use Scrap Materials for Raised Garden Beds
5. Recycle & Repurpose Everything
6. Practice Organic Gardening
7. Start Composting
8. Buy Compost in Bulk
9. Start Your Plants from Seeds
10. Homemade Potting Soil
11. Save Your Seeds
12. Make a Rain Barrel
13. Use Homemade Fertilizers
14. Make Your Own Soil Amendment
15. Find Free Mulch Sources
16. Find a Local Plant or Seed Swap
17. Ask Friends for Cutting
18. Shop Out of Season for Plants
19. Say No to Professional Garden Planners
20. Don’t Invest in Large Equipment!
21. Try No-Till Gardening
22. Buy Used or Free Gardening Tools
23. Always Start Slow

Details at: https://www.homesteadingwhereyouare.com/2022/02/17/how-to-garden-when-youre-broke/


3 posted on 02/10/2024 5:37:51 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

homesteading where you are

bkmk


4 posted on 02/10/2024 5:39:03 AM PST by linMcHlp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Already have tomatoes,broccoli,cabbage,cauliflower germinating in peat pots in the green house for this years garden. More to come next month like eggplant,zucchini,carrots,radishes,romaine,peppers,artichoke,butternut squash,cantaloupe,watermelon,maybe corn again too...


5 posted on 02/10/2024 5:41:35 AM PST by eyeamok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FRiends

How To Create a Summer Garden on a Budget:
https://www.mystayathomeadventures.com/gardening-on-a-budget/

Budget garden ideas: 30 clever ways to improve a big or small plot for less:
https://www.realhomes.com/advice/cheap-garden-ideas

How To Start a Garden on a Budget:
https://www.tenthacrefarm.com/how-to-start-a-garden-on-a-budget/


6 posted on 02/10/2024 5:44:22 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

We still have a bunch of butternut squash soup and zucchini fritters in the freezer in vacuum sealed packages from last years harvest.

Zucchini fritters: shred your zucchini,make patties and fry them til fully cooked, let cool then put in vacuum sealed bags. when time to eat let defrost and put in Air Fryer for about 10 minutes. They come out awesome, we had some the other night with burgers.


7 posted on 02/10/2024 5:48:52 AM PST by eyeamok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: eyeamok; FRiends

I’m a good month behind you up here on ‘The Frozen Tundra’ but I enjoy the ‘planning phase’ of any home project, so I’m happy! :)

Plus - we’re not a very ‘frozen’ tundra this season! We had two tornadoes touch down on Wednesday which has never happened in February in Wisconsin. Nothing other than minor injuries to only ONE person, but a lot of farm machinery and buildings damaged and people without electricity for a few days. :(


8 posted on 02/10/2024 5:49:24 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: FRiends

10 Free Printable Garden Planners

https://acultivatednest.com/free-printable-garden-planners/


9 posted on 02/10/2024 5:50:16 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

We will all be gardening on a budget…until the government and the UN/WEF steps in and outlaws it “to save the planet”!


10 posted on 02/10/2024 5:50:32 AM PST by Redleg Duke (“Who is John Galt?”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good morning!
Going to sow some seeds this week: early-planted things like pansy, viola, snaps, dianthus, and slow-growing later planted things like Dragon Wing and regular begonias.
Got a puppy a week ago and he’s keeping me busy, must find time to start some seeds despite this cute little furball needing a lot of supervision. His Viking themed rescue name has been changed to Henry.
His dog rescue listing : https://fetchwi.org/doggos/balder


11 posted on 02/10/2024 5:51:05 AM PST by TheConservativeParty (TRUMP 2024 Drain That Swamp )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: eyeamok

Re: Zucchini fritters

I make those, too. Love them with onion grated in there, and with sour cream on top. ;)


12 posted on 02/10/2024 5:52:21 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke
My plan? :)


13 posted on 02/10/2024 5:55:51 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

I have been researching 5-gallon buckets in lieu of raised beds. I have been building raised beds for the boss for three years! Now, she is letting me have a vegetable garden of my own for the crops that interest me, like potatoes, winter squash (To attract the pests from her crops), onions, shallots, and okra.

On Youtube, I have found several designs for wooden racks to hold up to 12 buckets. I am also going to make four mounts and plant the Three Sisters.

I am also repurposing a 10’ by 20’ quonset frame with cattle panels and greenhouse plastic for a high tunnel next to our greenhouse.


14 posted on 02/10/2024 5:57:11 AM PST by Redleg Duke (“Who is John Galt?”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TheConservativeParty

Congratulations! How kind of you! He’s gorgeous - and whoever does the marketing for that rescue site knows what they’re doing! I’ve always had pound-found pets - but now we ‘make our own’ hunting dogs, LOL!

I’ve got FOUR puppies running around right now. So GRATEFUL for this mild winter - I was afraid we’d have to keep them in the house somehow, but with our mild winter they’re fine sleeping in the barn. They have a big house with bales of straw all around it, but they prefer sleeping with the Steer! No one has been squished yet!


15 posted on 02/10/2024 5:59:57 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

We usually grow enough tomatoes to make enough marinara sauce for the whole year, frozen in vacuum sealed packages of course. Growing your own vegetables always taste better than store bought, just like the eggs we get from our chickens, there is no comparison to bland flavorless store bought eggs and veggies.


16 posted on 02/10/2024 6:00:18 AM PST by eyeamok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

U.N. ‘secretly working with banks’ to destroy American food industry

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4215698/posts

WND reported just days ago on a video that showed empty stores in France, where a climate agenda threatened the production processes for farmers, and they more or less staged a strike.

And just recently, in Germany, farmers blocked highways in protest over costly and unnecessary agriculture policies.

Now, however, there’s a new campaign against farmers, in which the United Nations works with banks to debank the food producers, closing their accounts and not allowing them to operate their businesses.

The report is from NewsAddicts, which explained officials from 12 U.S. states have sounded an alarm after finding out the “unelected globalist United Nations is secretly working with banks to destroy the American farming industry.”

The report explained the banks use the U.N.’s “Marxist ‘environmental, social, and corporate governance’ (ESG) criteria to score and penalize farmers.”

They found that those farmers not sufficiently “woke,” that is, using methods and processes that are not ESG-approved, have their accounts shut down without notice, the report said.

The report charged, “The plot seeks to throttle the agriculture industry to eliminate all those who fail to comply with the globalist ‘Net Zero’ agenda of the World Economic Forum (WEF)…”

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...


17 posted on 02/10/2024 6:03:03 AM PST by CottonBall (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: CottonBall

U.N. ‘secretly working with banks’ to destroy American food industry

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4215698/posts

WND reported just days ago on a video that showed empty stores in France, where a climate agenda threatened the production processes for farmers, and they more or less staged a strike.

And just recently, in Germany, farmers blocked highways in protest over costly and unnecessary agriculture policies.

Now, however, there’s a new campaign against farmers, in which the United Nations works with banks to debank the food producers, closing their accounts and not allowing them to operate their businesses.

The report is from NewsAddicts, which explained officials from 12 U.S. states have sounded an alarm after finding out the “unelected globalist United Nations is secretly working with banks to destroy the American farming industry.”

The report explained the banks use the U.N.’s “Marxist ‘environmental, social, and corporate governance’ (ESG) criteria to score and penalize farmers.”

They found that those farmers not sufficiently “woke,” that is, using methods and processes that are not ESG-approved, have their accounts shut down without notice, the report said.

The report charged, “The plot seeks to throttle the agriculture industry to eliminate all those who fail to comply with the globalist ‘Net Zero’ agenda of the World Economic Forum (WEF)…”

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...


18 posted on 02/10/2024 6:05:51 AM PST by CottonBall (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

2 articles I thought might be of interest posted above

it’s time for me to pick out types of orchard trees and blueberry bushes! Luckily I already did some research for the other house - I just need to go find it and update with replacements for the trees that didn’t do so well.

We have a backhoe this time, so the trees and blueberries should do better as they mature.

I’m skipping the hazelnuts this time! The trees were beautiful, as were the gallon or so of hazelnuts I got the first year. Second year the squirrels left me 5 hazelnuts!


19 posted on 02/10/2024 6:11:29 AM PST by CottonBall (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke; FRiends

One tip on using 5-gallon buckets for planting: drill your drainage holes about 2” up from the BOTTOM of the bucket, along the sides. You’ll get much better drainage that way.

(You might already know this, but I’m posting in case someone else reading hasn’t learned this tip.)

If the bucket is just sitting on the ground, there’s no good way for the bucket to drain if the holes are in the very bottom of the bucket.

I have large (5-6 gallon) scavenged nursery pots that already had side/bottom drainage, but I have them up on bricks for even better drainage.

My Budget Tip for All: If you have a Nursery/Garden center near you, check to see if they’ll give you some big pots for free. We were just sending ours to recycling, so we gave them away to customers that wanted them. It’s amazing what a ‘Free Pile’ will help you get rid of! :)


20 posted on 02/10/2024 6:14:13 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson